Betting breakdown

Verdict

A 50-1 surprise as BENEFFICIENT made all and never looked like being reeled in by the staying-on Sous Les Cieux in the closing stages. The field was still closely grouped three out with all cards yet to be played and it was the second last where the outcome of the contest was ultimately decided. Sous Les Cieux was just starting to make progress from the rear when a less-than-fluent leap immediately took him off the bridle under Ruby Walsh. That left him on the backfoot and eight lengths off the leader, who shot round the home bend on the rail like a greyhound and opened up what proved a race-winning advantage. Sous Les Cieux began to cut the deficit under pressure once straightening for home and produced a good jump at the last but was never getting there fast enough and went down by just over a length. This was a tactically sharp piece of riding on the winner by Bryan Cooper as he used his mount's speed to good effect against what looked like a field of stayers in the long term. His trainer was quick to put a line through his last run when pulled up at Thurles in very testing ground and he now heads for the Cheltenham Festival His price has been cut for the Neptune Investment Hurdle although making all around there will be a far tougher assignment. The runner-up gets credit for digging deep and will surely been seen in an even better light when tackling two and a half miles and beyond. Il Fenomeno wasn't quick enough to go with the winner and then was oustayed by the second. His cause was not helped by a mistake at the last and he fared pretty well in the circumstances. Captain Conan and Cash And Go were both disappointing. The Tolworth Hurdle winner had surprised connections with that success at Sandown but he was a spent force here from the second last. He is a strapping sort who needs more time. Cash And Go had landed three on the spin, including a Grade 1 at this track over Christmas. He had every chance two out but was soon going up and down on the same spot. Lord Windermere is well regarded but this was a jump up in class and gets some credit despite being found wanting in the straight having steered a wide passage. Burn And Turn bit off a bit more than he could chew having won in maiden hurdle company last time.